NEW YORK, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WebMD Health Corp. today announced the honorees of the 2008 WebMD Health Heroes awards, featured in the November/December issue of WebMD the Magazine. The third annual WebMD Health Heroes Awards honor four Americans who face health issues with the vision and drive to inspire others to action.
Top Hollywood Producer Starts Revolutionary Movement to Help End Cancer
Laura Ziskin, breast cancer survivor and Hollywood producer of movies such as Pretty Woman and Spider-Man, co-founded an organization called Stand Up to Cancer. Through a nationally televised special in September 2008 that was simulcast on CBS, NBC and ABC, more than $100 million was raised for cancer research and treatment. Ziskin’s goal is to have at least one new cancer drug come from this effort.
Hispanic Health Pioneer Empowers Urban Children to Clean Up Their Environment
Jane L. Delgado, Ph.D., launched a program for children who live in urban areas called the Health and Environment Action Network. Dr. Delgado’s goal is to help clean up some of the nation’s dirtiest cities, to give children in these areas a better future. Her program, which launched in 2007, distributes mobile environmental monitors to children in cities including Detroit and Brooklyn. The children use the devices to track area pollutants and the information is reported online at HEANaction.org. Dr. Delgado is also the director of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health in Washington, DC, where she heads up programs to improve the health of Latino youths and families across the country.
Young Girl’s Triathlon Team Raises more than $100K for Cancer Research
Nine-year-old Winter Vinecki from Gaylord, Michigan, created “Team Winter” to raise money for cancer research after her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Vinecki gathered a group of runners and triathletes from all over the U.S. who helped raise more than $100,000 to benefit Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Her goal is to continue raising money until there is a cure.
Mother Taps Into Her Own Experience to Launch Successful Postpartum Blog
Katherine Stone of Fayetteville, Georgia, launched a blog called Postpartum Progress to help other women who are looking for comfort and answers about a range of postpartum-related conditions. Stone started the website in 2004 after she developed a postpartum-related mental illness. Stone’s blog includes the latest research on postpartum depression as well as information on support groups and treatment programs. In four years, Postpartum Progress became a popular blog on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
“WebMD Health Heroes are the essence of all that we believe in at WebMD,” said Nan Forte, Executive Vice President, WebMD Consumer Services. “Turning passion, knowledge and ingenuity into action, these individuals inspire us and we are honored to recognize them publicly for their outstanding personal achievements.”
WebMD the Magazine reaches an audience of nearly 9 million consumers, providing health content in an interactive format, with trusted health and wellness information on a range of topics including fitness, nutrition, sleep, mental health, parenting, and skincare/beauty. WebMD the Magazine is the third most-read magazine among all heath-related magazines, according to the MARS OTC/DTC national media and marketing study. WebMD the Magazine is available online at www.webmd.com/magazine or at your healthcare provider’s office.
The Health Heroes Awards are an annual, national program to recognize individuals who overcome challenges and help transform healthcare. Health Heroes are featured in WebMD the Magazine’s November/December issue and online at www.webmd.com/healthheroes.
About WebMD
WebMD Health Corp. is the leading provider of health information services, serving consumers, physicians, healthcare professionals, employers and health plans through our public and private online portals and health-focused publications. WebMD Health Corp. is a subsidiary of HLTH Corporation .
The WebMD Health Network reaches more than 49 million visitors a month through its leading owned and operated health sites that include WebMD Health, Medscape, MedicineNet, eMedicine, eMedicine Health, RxList and theheart.org.
CONTACT: Katherine Hahn, WebMD Health Corp., +1-212-624-3760,
khahn@webmd.net
Web site: http://www.webmd.com/healthheroes/
